Despite the confrontation, Burns insisted today that the
family had no issue with Owens' relationship with their daughter, Ally Hawkins,
on the basis of sexuality. The pair has been dating for about a year, according
to Owens' sister, Avery Godwin.

Mallory Owens, pictured here before she was beaten on Thanksgiving Day, poses for a photo in a mirror. (Courtesy of Avery Godwin)

"To have invited her (Owens) to spend Thanksgiving with
the family says something," Burns said. "Then for her to want to come
back to the Travis (Hawkins) residence after - as soon as she gets out of the
hospital -- and for Bridgette and Travis Sr. to welcome her back, well you
know, that says something too."

Burns added that the family had disapproved of Owens in the
past, but said the disapproval had to do with Owens' "conduct," and
not with her or their daughter's sexuality.

"They (the Hawkins family) have recognized that the
relationship between Mallory and Ally is a long-term commitment, and the choice
is to say, 'Well, we're angry about something that may have happened in the
past,' and risk losing the relationship with their daughter, or to say 'Look,
you guys are life partners, welcome into the family,'" Burns said.

Mallory Owens is shown at the University of South Alabama Medical Center after she was attacked on Nov. 22, 2012. (Courtesy of Avery Godwin)

Burns said the family hadn't noticed any "hard
words" or seen conflict between Travis Hawkins Jr. and Owens before the
attack, which sent her to the University of South Alabama Medical Center
suffering from multiple skull fractures and crushed bones.

She also had to have metal plates put in her cheeks. The
extent of her injuries has made seeing a plastic surgeon necessary.

The family also said Travis Hawkins Jr. had no issues with
his sister's sexuality.

"He had spent a lot of time with Ally and her friends,"
Travis Hawkins Sr. said. "She has a nice community of lesbian friends that
he enjoyed spending time with. He has several of them on his Facebook, speaks
to them frequently, hangs out with them, that kind of thing. Their relationship
was not a problem."

Godwin said Travis Hawkins Sr. pushed Travis Hawkins Jr. off
Owens, stopping the attack on Thanksgiving Day. Travis Hawkins Sr. estimated
that the attack only went on for a few seconds before he was able to stop it.

The family has since seen threatening messages on Facebook
and other Internet forums.

Meanwhile, the parents say their son is scared and upset
about his actions.

"He's really broken up, he's realized -- I think at this
point -- the gravity of what he's done," Travis Hawkins Sr. said.